The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-02-02
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How the chanss was BrouEht About-A
Good Rse6iftton%The Result
On my discharge from prison found
the way open 10 me for fresh offenses
even greater than the one had conS-
mittsd. Ny father hid died while I was
stiil In prison, and my mother had mar
ried again. / found my former prison
associate waiting for me in a large city.
We formed a partnership in crime which
lasted nearly seven years. during which
we perpetrated over fifty b,irgiaries- In
none of these were We detected, though
several times we had narrow escapes. and
/ was once arrested, charged with an
offense with which had no connection.
Fortunately for me, the real criminal, a
man of whom I had no knowledge was
discovered; and ] was discharged from
Custody. Why, heii, Gid Ecease being d
burglar and become an honest mann 1
bad been more than ordinarily successful
IN my criminal career. and had. save in
my first crime. committed when l Nts
novice in the business, escaped all nunishs
hiefft for my violations of law. This Is
how the cllnnge came about. One night
as sat in my well furnished room read.
ing the last number of popular magas
zine. something that perused set me to
thinlSing. II was 4 story in which ocs
eurred the expression that IN the long ruth
man, other things being equal. Could
make more by honest than by dishonest
work. / stopped reading and endeavored
to call to mind the amount of my tsains5
had no trouble in doing so. being as
sisted by full notes that had kept in a
cipher of my own designing,
had never fully contemplated thd
matter before. but nows with zen and
paper. put the whole subject before my
eyes. Not counting my first burglary. I
found that my share of nI the others
amounted to the sum of about $21,
or nearly $1,000 year. At that mos
ment had as the entire profits Of my
profession. the sum of $2f0 in cash, to-
gether with fair stock Of CLOTHES and o
watch that had bought, for was too
shrewd to wear one that / had stolen.
was not addicted 10 drinking, gambling,
or other OF what may call small vices.
but my expenses in travelling, in eluding
detectionS and in feeling certain officers of
the law had been heavy, 80 that had
never been able to do much more than
to mnintain myself in way that was
neither luxurious rs regarded tho body
nor comfortable SO far as the mind was
concerned. was always unsettled and
constantly In fear of arrest was
never sure at night when / went to bed
that should not before morning be in
irons and on my way to- prison. Bcsidei
all this, 1 had had n great deal of hail
physical labor to perform, and was often
obliged TO spend hOdrs in nll sorts of
cramped and otherwise uncomfortable
positions.
Three thousand dollars year! That
was all. knew tllnt had the ability
To- ~
honest work II ! could only get tho
honest work to do, and that, toOt Withs
out such wear and tear of mind az had
endured for scven years, to- say BUtlling
of my term of imprisonment.
That night my resolution was taken,
and the next morning / was on my way
to remote Phrt of the country under tho
name that now bear. With my 5000
Sffd $3.50 moro that obtained from the
sale of my watch, bought a small bu,i>
ness that was for sale, and became Il
citizen OF thriving town. Reading i'm
duced reflection, and better principles
were developed in me, and little by little
the idea dawned upon me that it WIS my
duty to make restitution, and began to
save money with that object in view.
cannot, without danger Of revealing
my identity, give any further particulars
of my life Slfffieesft to say that ann
now nearly 90 years Of age, tint have
restored over $4,000 of stolen money,
and th:t have the rest in safe kocpirZ
ready to give it back as soon as can
find the lawfu1 owners. 1 have retired
from business of my own, but hold
responsible position m first-eiass cstal1-
hshment with a salary of over 81, 600 4
year, and nm, believe, respected by all
who know mc.-iJew York Star.